- PSALMS The psalms are the production of various authors. “Only a
portion of the Book of Psalms claims David as its author. Other inspired
poets in successive generations added now one now another contribution
to the sacred collection, and thus in the wisdom of Providence it more
completely reflects every phase of human emotion and circumstances than
it otherwise could.” But it is specially to David and his contemporaries
that we owe this precious book. In the “titles” of the psalms, the
genuineness of which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, 73 are ascribed
to David. Peter and John (Acts 4:25) ascribe to him also the second psalm,
which is one of the 48 that are anonymous. About two-thirds of the whole
collection have been ascribed to David.
Psalms 39, 62, and 77 are addressed to Jeduthun, to be sung after his
manner or in his choir. Psalms 50 and 73-83 are addressed to Asaph, as the
master of his choir, to be sung in the worship of God. The “sons of
Korah,” who formed a leading part of the Kohathite singers (2 Chronicles
20:19), were intrusted with the arranging and singing of Psalm 42, 44-49,
84, 85, 87, and 88.
In Luke 24:44 the word “psalms” means the Hagiographa, i.e., the holy
writings, one of the sections into which the Jews divided the Old
Testament. (See BIBLE.)
None of the psalms can be proved to have been of a later date than the
time of Ezra and Nehemiah, hence the whole collection extends over a
period of about 1,000 years. There are in the New Testament 116 direct
quotations from the Psalter.
The Psalter is divided, after the analogy of the Pentateuch, into five books,
each closing with a doxology or benediction:
(1.) The first book comprises the first 41 psalms, all of which are ascribed
to David except 1, 2, 10, and 33, which, though anonymous, may also be
ascribed to him.
(2.) Book second consists of the next 31 psalms (42-72), 18 of which are
ascribed to David and 1 to Solomon (the 72nd). The rest are anonymous.
(3.) The third book contains 17 psalms (73-89), of which the 86th is
ascribed to David, the 88th to Heman the Ezrahite, and the 89th to Ethan
the Ezrahite.